Tiefling
Tieflings are the fiendish descendants of devils and demons created through hellish pacts and unholy love. They are rare throughout the Ghostly Realms but wherever they are found, they tend to rise to positions of power due to their dedication and desire to prove themselves. Indeed, most humanoids who have never met a Tiefling fear even a mention of them. Wherever they are found, they are often accepted or well on their way towards acceptance.
However, not all Tieflings face as hard a life as others. Many tieflings, especially those not bearing the blood of Asmodeus, vary from baseline humans in ways that are not always perceptible. These differences could be as minor as slightly slanted eyes, a small skin pigmentation change, and fangs or as dramatic as a head of horns, digitigrade legs, and devilish tails.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
All tieflings bear the blood of some fiendish ancestor and it is this blood that causes them to bear their appearance and any powers that appearance may grant. Asmodeus, the Archdevil of the Nine Hells, is renowned for the number of Tieflings that carry his blood but many others exist from much more minor pairings.
All Asmodean tieflings gain the following benefits:
Infernal Legacy. You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Tieflings may alternatively have one of the following, or a unique, benefit:
Devil’s Tongue. You know the vicious mockery cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the enthrall spell once with this trait. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for them. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Hellfire. You know the green-flame blade cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the burning hands spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the flame blade spell once with this trait. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Winged. Bat-like wings jut from your shoulder blades. You have a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Infernal Legacy. You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Tieflings may alternatively have one of the following, or a unique, benefit:
Devil’s Tongue. You know the vicious mockery cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the enthrall spell once with this trait. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for them. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Hellfire. You know the green-flame blade cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the burning hands spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the flame blade spell once with this trait. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Winged. Bat-like wings jut from your shoulder blades. You have a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Tieflings are often integrated into larger societies, especially human ones. However, many tieflings have found themselves forming reclusive colonies or wandering caravans. Whatever the group, tieflings tend to prefer societies where fairness is highly valued and are often disgusted by corrupt systems. In what is to many an ironic twist of fate, many tieflings make their homes in Holy Orders which value justice and adherence to a code.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Most tieflings adhere to the naming traditions of the society into which they were born. However, it is not uncommon for tieflings to change their names or add titles to their names to better express their dedication to a cause or ideal. This practice is known as virtue naming and often results in something akin to "of Freedom" or "of Joy" among tieflings who value their birth names strongly or in a complete change of their name to traits like "Honor," "Justice," or "Modesty."
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Most tieflings speak the native language of wherever they were born in conjunction with Common. However, tieflings have a genetic predisposition that allows them to more quickly understand, and learn to speak, Infernal and Abyssal. For this reason, most tieflings are proficient in one of these languages even if they are not wholly aware of it.
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
5'4" to 6'4"
Average Weight
160 lbs
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